Finally, The Definitive Cradle-to-Grave Biography on George Jones to Be Released
George Jones has never been short on love from country music fans, but his place in the culture at large has never been chronicled to it’s proper stature. Well all of that is about to change with the release of two biopic films, and finally a cradle-to-grave biography on The Possum’s life. The Grand Tour: The Life and Music of George Jones written by music journalist and country historian Rich Kienzle is set to be released on April 1st via Dey Street Books, a division of HarperCollins.
The 320-page biography will cover George’s life from an impoverished childhood growing up in East Texas, being raised by by a devoutly-religious, but alcoholic mother and an often-abusive father, his multiple tumultuous marriages including to Tammy Wynette, his alcohol and cocaine abuse that almost killed him, and his marriage to his fourth wife Nancy.
The Grand Tour will also cover the ups and downs of George’s recording career, his place in country music history, and how he became increasingly frustrated with the wayward direction of country music later in his life. Rich Kienzle is said to have culled through reams of governmental records and archival material for the biography, interviewed producers, musicians, industry types, and friends and admirers of George Jones to be able to offer the definitive story on his entire life. The book also includes eight pages of photos, and will be available in hardcover, paperback, and digital reader versions.
The news comes as two separate movies on the life of George Jones are in the pipeline. No Show Jones written by Alan Wenkus is being produced by 28 Entertainment out of Los Angeles, and a movie focusing more on the relationship between George and Tammy Wynette starring Josh Brolin and Jessica Chastain is also in production.
February 10, 2016 @ 2:07 pm
Is there something in the water? What’s with all the possum love all of a sudden?
Two movies AND a book?
I’m hoping and I’m praying that this means the man finally takes his place as one of the greatest vocalists in recorded history.
February 10, 2016 @ 5:49 pm
Who says he isn’t the most respected vocalist? Or the biggest country music singer in history? I really can’t see anybody doing a legitimate list and putting him outside the top 3 at worst. Hank senior, him, and Garth being the biggest figures, possibly Johnny cash.
It’s great this is all happening for him.
February 10, 2016 @ 6:31 pm
You can make a strong argument that WIllie and Cash are above Hank Sr. and Garth in terms of lasting cultural importance.
Hank Sr. is beloved by music fans, musicians and historians, but I’m not sure the general public is super aware of him at this point aside from the tragic legend of his demise and him being the father of the guy who sang the Monday Night Football anthem. I’m in no way trying to disrespect Hank Sr. However the lack of a major motion picture of his life on the level of Walk The Line and the fact he lived and died before television and media was baked into society as a whole probably hurts him some on the fame level.
In the 90’s I would have agreed with you about Garth and while he is still massively popular, he has hurt his own popularity with future generations. Garth’s stance on streaming and digital music (nobody cares about GhostTunes) and his decision to yank all his videos off YouTube have likely murdered his popularity with fans that didn’t grow up with him in the 90’s. Let’s say some young man or woman is listening to the radio and by some miracle they play a Garth Brooks song from the 80’s or 90’s. Where do they find that music? They can’t listen to it on YouTube, they can’t stream it on Spotify and they can’t even buy it on Amazon or iTunes.
Garth has essentially murdered his musical legacy for future generations because he is pissed he can’t control what to charge consumers for his individual songs. Even Paul McCartney, Metallica, etc. have gotten on the digital bandwagon. Garth is quite literally the last remaining major artist who refuses to adjust his stance for the reality he and the music business are living in.
Cash and Willie are practically mythic Gods throughout Pop Culture. Hopefully these new George Jones projects are awesome so new generations will seek out his material.
April 17, 2016 @ 5:25 am
“Let”™s say some young man or woman is listening to the radio and by some miracle they play a Garth Brooks song from the 80”™s or 90”™s. Where do they find that music? They can”™t listen to it on YouTube, they can”™t stream it on Spotify and they can”™t even buy it on Amazon or iTunes.”
Mike W this comment is spot on, I am a younger country music fan who did not grow up with it and I have just recently started to explore the greats, and have really enjoyed delving into the work of George Jones, Alan Jackson, George Strait, etc. I had heard a Garth song on the radio (surprisingly!) while I was driving the other day and made a mental note to myself to check out some of his albums on Youtube or Spotify when I got home, but unfortunately realized none of it is available and that all of the songs were karaoke type covers etc. Now obviously it is Garth’s prerogative to do what he wants with his catalogue and not my place to judge, but just in terms of exploring artists and developing a passion for country music, there are so many other great artists that are more accessible/easier to research etc. Basically just wanted to say that your comment was 100% accurate since that is exactly what happened to me! Haha.
February 11, 2016 @ 8:43 am
Garth Brooks has obviously had a huge impact on country music and popular culture.
But Fuzzy wasn’t talking about cultural impact, he was talking about Jones’s stature among the all-time great vocalists. Garth isn’t a great vocalist by any stretch of the imagination. Not saying he’s bad, just that there’s nothing distinctive enough about his vocal abilities to put him in the discussion of the all-time greats.
All-time great entertainers, yes. All-time great promoters, absolutely.
February 12, 2016 @ 7:49 am
Jones has no stature “among the all time great vocalists”, he IS the all time greatest vocalist in country music. Hank, Willie, and Garth all had limited vocal talent.
February 10, 2016 @ 2:56 pm
I’m curious what all it will have to say. Jones bio is probably the best, or at least most eye opening one, I have ever read. So most of my interest is on if it can bring something new to the table or not.
February 10, 2016 @ 3:48 pm
This has got my interest. I Lived To Tell It All was great, but it’s always good to have a definitive posthomous account that can cover things after an autobiography. I wouldn’t mind if this one adds a little more focus to George’s children, since ILTTIA seemed to gloss over those relationships.
February 10, 2016 @ 8:04 pm
I sure did love I Lived To Tell It All. I read it twice, in fact. A great and easy read from the Possum’ s point of view. What an exhileratling and frightening wild ride! I just hope all of these new projects don’t tarnish his legacy. I suspect the epic biography will be great but who the hell knows about the movies.
February 10, 2016 @ 6:07 pm
I hate reading that much but it’s Jones so expection made.
February 10, 2016 @ 7:24 pm
Kienzle wrote the excellent booklets in the Bear Family Record’s George Jones boxed sets. Each set from different record label years. He knows his stuff and is a great writer with seemingly no inside Nashville agenda. The perfect guy to do this right. I hope he sheds light on Charlene Montgomery’s sister Linda who lived with George long enough to be his common law wife under Alabama law before he met Nancy. I’m also hoping he sheds some light on Nancy Jones’ character. The whole George Jones brand of booze bothers me… it doesn’t seem right.
February 10, 2016 @ 8:22 pm
Have any of you read the George Jones biography written by Bob Allen?
http://www.amazon.com/George-Jones-Times-Honky-Legend/dp/0312956983
February 10, 2016 @ 9:20 pm
I lived to tell it all is a great read…
Charlene and Peanutt Montgomery also wrote The Legend of George Jones, with many details on his kids lives and their view on how things were handled after his death.
February 10, 2016 @ 11:58 pm
should just get on amazon and order a copy of georges autobiography from 1996 I lived to tell it all written from George himself
February 11, 2016 @ 11:19 am
It’s a good read, but it’s the story from George’s point of view. And the Possum’s second autobiography.
I look forward to hearing his life story told by someone who doesn’t have any skin in the game.
February 11, 2016 @ 5:55 pm
Can’t wait to get this title, I don’t know but amazon says march29